Hidden connector system for railings

ABSTRACT

A hidden connector system ( 10 ) for railing constructions including a basic railing unit ( 11 ) including an elongated hollow tubular railing member ( 20 ), the interior surface of which is provided with a generally C-shaped central core element ( 21 ) that is supported within the interior of the railing member ( 20 ) by a pair of opposed struts ( 22 ) ( 22 ) wherein, the exterior surface of the railing member ( 20 ) may be provided with opposed elongated channels ( 23 ) and/or opposed cylindrical recesses ( 25 ) that are offset by 90° from the opposed struts ( 22 ) ( 22 ) and wherein a plurality of railing members ( 20 ) ( 20 ′) etc. may be connected to one another by conventional fasteners ( 50 ) alone or in combination with diverse connector members ( 60 ) ( 70 ) and ( 80 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of mechanical connector systems in general and in particular to a hidden connector system to provide railings with a clean exterior appearance.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,952,092; 6,203,233; 5,054,953; 5,370,368; and, 5,364,077, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse hidden connector systems for handrails and the like.

[0006] While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical arrangement wherein, a basic railing unit forms the basis for connecting a plurality of basic railing units together using conventional fasteners deployed in a generally concealed fashion.

[0007] Unfortunately, there is a wide variety of railing constructions which, while imminently functional, are sorely deficient in their aesthetic appearance due to the visible presence of welds, conventional couplers and the like.

[0008] As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need among railing designers for a new and improved hidden connector system for railing constructions that provides a clean, modern and aesthetically pleasing appearance; and the provision of such an arrangement forms the stated objective of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Briefly stated, the hidden connector system for railings relies almost exclusively upon a basic railing unit wherein, a plurality of basic railing units may be joined together in a variety of different combinations and configurations relying primarily upon the use of conventional fasteners as well as some customized connector members wherein the juncture between the plurality of basic railing units is virtually seamless to the casual observer.

[0010] As will be explained in greater detail further on in the specification, the basic railing unit comprises an elongated hollow tubular railing member, the interior surface of which is provided with a generally C-shaped central core element flanked by a pair of opposed struts that suspend the central core element within the interior of the tubular railing member.

[0011] In addition, the exterior surface of the tubular railing member may be optionally provided with opposed channels or opposed cylindrical recesses that are adapted to suspend decorative panels between spaced railing members or connect a plurality of railing members together in a perpendicularly aligned fashion.

[0012] Furthermore, the central core element is specifically designed to be threadedly engaged by a plurality of conventional fasteners used either alone or in combination with a plurality of diverse connector elements and/or customized connector members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handrail structure incorporating the hidden connector system of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a cut away view of the middle portion of the handrail structure;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0017]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lower portion of one of the handrail stanchions;

[0018]FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the components depicted in FIG. 4 in their assembled relationship;

[0019]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of one version of a vertical connector arrangement;

[0020]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of another version of a vertical connector arrangement;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a partial cut away view of a T-connector;

[0022]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the upper portion of a vertical railing connection; and,

[0023]FIG. 10 is an elevation view of both the upper and lower portions of a vertical railing connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the hidden connector system for railings that forms the basis of the present invention is designated generally by the reference number 10. The connector system 10 comprises in general a basic railing unit 11 and a plurality of diverse coupling units designated generally as 12. These units will now be described in seriatim fashion.

[0025] As shown throughout the drawing figures, the basic railing unit 11 comprises a generally hollow tubular railing member 20 the interior of which is provided with a generally C-shaped central core element 21 that extends along the axis of the tubular railing member 20 and which is suspended within the interior of the tubular railing member 20 by a pair of diametrically opposed struts 22 22 that provide structural rigidity to the tubular railing member 20.

[0026] Turning now to FIGS. 1 through 3, it can be seen that in one version of the preferred embodiment, the tubular railing member 20 is further provided with a plurality of elongated diametrically opposed channel elements 23 having a pair of opposed recesses 24 formed on their interior walls; wherein, the channel elements 23 are offset 90° from the struts 22 for reasons that will be explained presently.

[0027] In this version of the preferred embodiment, one of the channel elements 23 is designed to captively engage an elongated cap element 30 which matches the finish of the tubular railing member 20 to conceal the presence of the channel elements 23 wherein protrusions 31 on the exterior of the cap element 30 engage the recesses 24 in one of the channel elements 23. Furthermore, the other channel element 23′ is designed to cooperate in a similar fashion to captively engage the protrusions 41 formed on one of a pair of connectors 40 provided on the top and bottom of a decorative panel 45 that is suspended between a pair of vertically spaced railing members 20 20′.

[0028] In another version of the preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, the tubular railing member 20 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed cylindrical recesses 25 that are offset from the struts 22 90°. In this version, the recesses 25 are dimensioned to receive generally cylindrical connector elements 51 that join a vertical railing strut member 20″ to a pair of horizontally disposed railing members 20 20′wherein, the opposite ends of the vertical railing strut member 20″ have an arcuate recess 26 formed therein; and, the cylindrical connector elements 51 are provided with a central aperture (not shown) that is dimensioned to receive a conventional fastener 50 that is adapted to threadedly engage the central core 21 of the vertical railing strut member 20″ in a well recognized fashion.

[0029] In addition, as can best be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 4 through 7, each end of the railing member 20 can be specially contoured to accommodate different structural requirements. For instance, in FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that the vertical railing member 20 has an unaltered lower end that is dimensioned to be slidably received in the hollow central hub portion 61 of a base connector member 60, wherein, the floor 62 of the hub portion 61 of the base member 60 is provided with a central aperture 63 that is dimensioned to receive a conventional fastener 50 that will threadedly engage the central core element 21 of the tubular vertical railing member 20 for securing the base member 60 to the vertical railing member in a well recognized fashion.

[0030] Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be seen that both the central core element 21 and the opposed support struts 22 22 of the tubular railing member 20 may be removed in a straight line indented fashion relative to the ends of the tubular railing member 20 to accommodate different connector members 70 and 80. A shown in FIG. 6, the end of the railing member 20 is provided with a curved contoured cut that will accommodate a single fastener connector member 70 having a generally flat top surface 71 that is countersunk to receive the head 51 of a conventional fastener 50 and having a concave bottom surface 72 that conforms to the arcuate contoured end of the tubular railing member 20.

[0031] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, when a multiple fastener connector member 80 is employed, the straight recessed edge arrangement of the central core element 21 and the struts 22 22 allow a central conventional fastener 50 to be inserted in an inverted fashion through the concave bottom surface 82 of the connector member 80 to engage the central core element 21 of the railing member 20 while a pair of flanking conventional fasteners 50 50 extends through the top surface 81 and projects beyond the concave bottom surface 82 to attach the connector member 80 to another substrate (not shown); wherein, the heads 51 of the downwardly facing conventional fasteners 50 are spaced from the recessed ends of the central core element 21 and struts 22 22 in a well recognized fashion.

[0032] As can also be seen by reference to FIG. 8, two opposed tubular railing members 20 20 can be operatively connected to one another by a double ended threaded fastener 150 that engages the central core element 21 of each railing member 20 20 such that the opposed railing members 20 20 can engage and be supported by a third railing member 20 in a generally Y-shaped configuration.

[0033] Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

[0034] Having thereby described the subject matter of the present invention, it should be apparent that many substitutions, modifications, and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention as taught and described herein is only to be limited to the extent of the breadth and scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A hidden connector system for railing constructions comprising a basic railing unit including an elongated hollow tubular railing member the interior of which is provided with a generally tubular central core element that is suspended within the interior of the tubular railing member by a pair of opposed struts.
 2. The system as in claim 1; wherein, the central core element has a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
 3. The system as in claim 2; wherein, the central core element and the pair of struts extend along the entire length of the railing member.
 4. The system as in claim 2; wherein, the central core element and the pair of struts are recessed from the opposed ends of the railing member.
 5. The system as in claim 3; wherein, at least one of the opposite ends of the railing member terminates in a straight line.
 6. The system as in claim 4; wherein, at least one of the opposite ends of the railing member terminates in a straight line.
 7. The system as in claim 3; wherein, at least one of the opposite ends of the railing member terminates in a contoured curve.
 8. The system as in claim 4; wherein, at least one of the opposite ends of the railing member terminates in a contoured curve.
 9. The system as in claim 5; wherein, both of the ends of the railing member terminate in a straight line.
 10. The system as in claim 6; wherein, both of the ends of the railing member terminate in a straight line.
 11. The system as in claim 7; wherein, both of the ends of the railing member terminate in a contoured curve.
 12. The system as in claim 8; wherein, both of the ends of the railing member terminate in a contoured curve.
 13. The system as in claim 1; wherein, the external surface of the railing member is provided with a pair of elongated opposed channels.
 14. The system as in claim 13; wherein, the opposed channels are offset by 90° from the opposed struts.
 15. The system as in claim 1; wherein, the external surface of the railing member is provided with at least one pair of opposed cylindrical recesses.
 16. The system as in claim 15; wherein, the at least one pair of opposed cylindrical recesses is offset by 90° from the opposed struts.
 17. The system as in claim 2; wherein, the external surface of the railing member is provided with a pair of elongated opposed channels.
 18. The system as in claim 17; wherein, the opposed channels are offset by 90° from the opposed struts.
 19. The system as in claim 2; wherein, the external surface of the railing member is provided with at least one pair of opposed cylindrical recesses.
 20. The system as in claim 19; wherein, the at least one pair of opposed cylindrical recesses is offset by 90° from the opposed struts. 